Samantha Ros

The American Theorem: Fostering the Emergence and Growth of the Amateur Female Artist in the 19^th Century

The theorem painting technique, typically associated with representations of abundant fruit bowls or elaborate flower arrangements, was especially prevalent in the United States during the second half of the nineteenth century. The compositions are characteristically stylized and mechanical, created by methodically adding paint through a series of stencil layers. Alongside other skills such as needlework and singing, theorem painting was incorporated into the curriculum at female seminaries as a means of cultivating traditional values of patience and refinement. Both men and women engaged in theorem painting, and the style was accessible to both professional and amateur artists; stencil templates were relatively widely dispersed through ladies’ magazines, home manuals, and etiquette manuals. It was when the technique of theorem painting became more strongly associated with the innovation and experimentation of amateur female artists and was further relegated to the increasingly isolated domestic realm that the technique became noticeably devalued. The emergence of amateur women’s art groups made continued education possible for women who were not interested in pursuing a professional career, while still providing direct support to women who were. As the intent of these art groups gradually shifted from personal improvement to community enrichment, they significantly enabled women to enter into and engage with the public sphere. The criticism of women’s art associations maintains that the groups did very little to challenge the position of women in society, painting these groups as naively content with what little opportunity they were granted. Much of that attitude can be attributed to a perceived lack of artistic ambition, as the majority of students were not interested in art as a profession. This frustration is understandable, but I argue that these associations were quite revolutionary in that they cultivated spaces that were explicitly female and supported self-expression. The very fact that many of these women were interested in art simply as a recreational activity is meaningful and worthy of exploration. The decision to direct time and effort toward activities that were often seen as selfish or useless served to legitimize women’s time and self-worth. The theorem technique was essential to the evolution of the female artist, as it facilitated meaningful connection to the community and contributed to the advancement of women in the nineteenth century.